Power supplying system and method

ABSTRACT

A system for supplying adapted power to an electronic device with a reduced level of power consumption when the device is not in use includes a first power supplying module, a control module coupled to the first power supplying module, and an MCU coupled to the control module and coupled to the electronic device. The MCU is configured to switch on the first power supplying module when the first power supplying module is in a normal state, the normal state being an AC power supply coupled to the first power supplying module. The MCU detects an instant mode of the electronic device and outputs a first signal to the control module when the electronic device is in a standby mode. The control module is configured to switch off the first power supplying module when the first signal is received. A power supplying method is further provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/243,920, filed on Aug. 22, 2016 and entitled “POWERSUPPLYING SYSTEM AND METHOD”, the entirety content of which isincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to power supply system andmethod.

BACKGROUND

An external power adapter is generally used for supplying power for anelectronic device, such as telephone in a conference call, and so on.Even when the electronic device is not in operation, electrical powerloss continues through the external adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present technology will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a power supplying system.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the power supplying system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a power supplying methodwhich can be applied to the power supplying system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is flowchart of the continuation of the power supplying method ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a third flowchart of the power supplying method of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, andcomponents have not been described in detail so as not to obscure therelated relevant feature being described. Also, the description is notto be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and theproportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustratedetails and features of the present disclosure. The disclosure isillustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicatesimilar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one”exemplary embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the sameexemplary embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarilylimited to physical connections. The connection can be such that theobjects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term“comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarilylimited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion ormembership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a power supplying system in accordance withan embodiment. The power supplying system can include a first powersupplying module 10, a second power supplying module 20, a controlmodule 30, a micro control unit (MCU) 40, a third power supplying module50, and a voltage converting module 60.

The first power supplying module 10 is coupled to the control module 30and the third power supplying module 50. The control module 30 iscoupled to the MCU 40. The MCU 40 is coupled to the second powersupplying module 20 and the third power supplying module 50. The firstpower supplying module 10, the second power supplying module 20, and thethird power supplying module 50 are coupled to the voltage convertingmodule 60. The MCU 40 and the voltage converting module 60 are coupledto an electronic device 70.

The first power supplying module 10 can include an AC power supply 11, apower supplying circuit 12 coupled to the AC power supply 11, and acontrol chip 14 coupled to the power supplying circuit 12. The powersupply circuit is configured to convert an AC voltage output from the ACpower supply to a first voltage and output the first voltage.

The power supply circuit 12 can include a first rectification filtercircuit 120, a switch circuit 122, a transformer 124, a secondrectification filter circuit 126, and a feedback circuit 128.

The AC power supply 11 is coupled to the first rectification filtercircuit 120. The first rectification filter circuit 120 is coupled to afirst terminal of the switch circuit 122. A second terminal of theswitch circuit 122 is coupled to the transformer 124 and the controlchip 13. The transformer 124 is coupled to the second rectificationfilter circuit 126. The second rectification filter circuit 126 iscoupled to the feedback circuit 128. A first switch 129 is coupledbetween the control chip 13 and the feedback circuit 128.

In at least one embodiment, the control chip 13 is a pulse widthmodulation (PWM) control chip and comprises an enable terminal EN, agate terminal GATE, a power terminal VCC, a feedback terminal FB, and agrounded terminal GND.

The second power supplying module 20 can include a battery 21 and anelectronic switch 22.

The control module 30 can include a control switch 31 and a controlcircuit 33. The control chip 13 is coupled to the control switch 31. Thecontrol switch 31 is coupled to the control circuit 33. The controlcircuit 33 is coupled to the MCU 40. The control circuit 33 can includea transistor Q, a first resistor R1, and a second resistor R2. Thetransistor Q has a gate, a source, and a drain. In at least oneembodiment, the control switch 31 is an optical coupler.

The third power supplying module 50 can include a super capacitor 51 anda diode 53. When the electric energy of the super capacitor 51 is empty,the control switch 31 is switched off and the enable terminal ENreceives a high level signal to enable the control chip 13 to controlthe first power supply module 10 to supply power to the super capacitor51, so that the super capacitor 51 is charged.

The MCU 40 can include a power terminal A, a switch control terminal B,a power detection terminal C, a signal detection terminal D, a circuitcontrol terminal E, and a voltage detection terminal F. The MCU 40 isconfigured to enable or disable the control chip 13 via the controlmodule 30.

The voltage converting module 60 can include a first input port 61, asecond input port 62, a ground port 63, and an output port 64. The firstinput port 61 is configured to receive the first voltage from the firstpower supplying module 10. The second input port 62 is configured toreceive the second voltage from the second power supplying module 20.The output port 64 is configured to output a third voltage by convertingthe first voltage or the second voltage.

The first power supplying module 10 has two states, normal and abnormal.When the first power supplying module 10 is in normal state and thecontrol chip 13 is enabled, the first power supplying module 10 isconfigured to supply power for the electronic device 70, the battery 21,and the super capacity 51. When the control chip 13 is disabled, thefirst power supplying module 10 cannot supply power. When the firstpower supplying module 10 is in abnormal state, the second powersupplying module 20 is configured to supply power for the electronicdevice 70. In at least one embodiment, when the AC power 11 is connectedto the power supplying circuit 12, the first power supplying module 10is in normal state. When the AC power 11 is disconnected from the powersupplying circuit 12, the first power supplying module 10 is in abnormalstate.

The MCU 40 is configured to detect a current mode of the electronicdevice 70. The current mode of the electronic device 70 can include astandby mode and an operation mode.

When the electronic device 70 is in the operation mode and the firstpower supplying module 10 is in normal state, the first power supplyingmodule 10 supplies the first voltage to the voltage converting module 60and the voltage converting module 60 outputs the third voltage to supplypower to the electronic device 70.

When the electronic device 70 is in the operation mode and the firstpower supplying module 10 is in abnormal state, the battery 21 suppliesthe second voltage to the voltage converting module 60, and the voltageconverting module 60 outputs the third voltage to supply power to theelectronic device 70.

The MCU 40 stores an operation voltage, a first reference voltage, asecond reference power, a first preset voltage, and a second presetvoltage. The MCU 40 is further configured to detect an instant voltageof the super capacitor 51 and to compare the instant voltage of thesuper capacitor 51 with the operation voltage of the MCU 40. When theinstant voltage of the super capacitor 51 is charged to be equal to theoperation voltage of the MCU 40, the super capacitor 51 supplies powerfor the MCU 40, and the MCU 40 is initialized to control the controlmodule 30 and enable the control chip 13 to switch off the electronicswitch 22.

The MCU 40 is further configured to detect an instant available power ofthe battery 21 and control the electronic switch 22 to be switched onwhen the instant available power of the battery 21 is lower than thefirst reference power, and the first power supplying module 10 suppliespower for the battery 21 to charge the battery 21.

The MCU 40 is further configured to compare the instant voltage of thesuper capacitor 51 with the first preset voltage and the second presetvoltage of the MCU 40.

When the first power supplying module 10 is in normal state and theinstant voltage of the super capacitor 51 is charged to be equal to theoperation voltage of the MCU 40, the MCU is initialized. When theinstant voltage of the super capacitor 51 is lower than the operationvoltage of the MCU 40, the first power supplying module 10 suppliespower for the super capacitor 51 to charge the super capacitor 51.

The AC power 11 is coupled to the first rectification filter circuit120. The first rectification filter circuit 120 is coupled to a firstnode 130 and the switch circuit 122. The switch circuit 122 is coupledto the first node 130, the gate terminal and power terminal VCC of thecontrol chip 13, and the transformer 124. The ground terminal GND iscoupled to the first node 130. The feedback terminal FB of the controlchip 13 is coupled to a port 3 of the first switch 129. The enableterminal EN of the control chip 13 is coupled to a port 4 of the controlswitch 31. A port 3 of the control switch 31 is coupled to the firstnode 130. A port 1 of the control switch 31 is coupled to a second node510. A port 2 of the control switch 31 is coupled to a first terminal ofthe first resistor R1. A second terminal of the first resistor R1 iscoupled to the drain of the transistor Q. The source of the transistor Qis grounded. The gate of the transistor Q is coupled to a first terminalof the second resistor R2. A second terminal of the second resistor R2is coupled to the circuit control terminal E of the MCU 40.

A first terminal of the super capacitor 51 is coupled to the second node510. A second terminal of the super capacitor 51 is coupled to a thirdnode 512. The second rectification filter circuit 126 is coupled to thethird node 512. The second node 510 is coupled to a fourth node 220 viathe diode 53. The fourth node 220 is coupled to the first input port ofthe voltage converting module 60 and the first terminal of theelectronic switch 22. The second terminal of the electronic switch 22 iscoupled to the switch control terminal B of the MCU 40. The thirdterminal of the electronic switch 22 is coupled to the second inputterminal of the voltage converting module 60. The second input terminalof the voltage converting module 60 is coupled to the positive pole ofthe battery 21 and the power detection terminal C of the MCU 40. Theground terminal 63 of the voltage converting module 60 is coupled to thethird node 512 and the negative pole of the battery 21. The outputterminal 64 of the voltage converting module 60 is coupled to a firstterminal of the electronic device 70. A second terminal of theelectronic device 70 is coupled to a signal detection terminal D of theMCU 40.

When the signal detection terminal D of the MCU 40 detects a firstsignal with a high level voltage, the MCU 40 determines that theelectronic device 70 is in the operation mode and outputs a secondsignal. The second signal is a low level voltage from the circuitcontrol terminal E to the control circuit 33. The control circuit 33controls the control switch 31 to output an enable signal with a highlevel voltage to the enable terminal EN of the control chip 13 accordingto the second signal. The enable terminal EN of the control chip 13controls the first power supplying module 10 to supply power for theelectronic device 70. The power detection terminal C detects whether theavailable power of the battery 21 is lower than the first referencepower. The switch control terminal B outputs a fifth signal with a highlever voltage to the electronic switch 22 when the available power ofthe battery 21 is lower than the first reference power. The electronicswitch 22 is switched on when the fifth signal is received. The firstpower supplying module 10 supplies power for the battery 21 to chargethe battery 21 when the electronic switch 22 is switched on. The powerdetection terminal C further detects whether the battery 21 is chargedto the second reference power. The switch control terminal B of the MCU40 outputs a sixth signal with a lower level voltage to the electronicswitch 22 when the power of the battery 21 is charged to the secondreference power. The electronic switch 22 is switched off when receivedthe sixth signal. The first power supplying module 10 stops supplyingpower for the battery 21 when the electronic switch 22 is switched off.

When the signal detection terminal D of the MCU 40 detects a thirdsignal with a low level voltage, the MCU 40 determines that theelectronic device 70 is in the standby mode and outputs a fourth signal.The fourth signal is a high level voltage from the circuit controlterminal E to the control circuit 33. The control circuit 33 switches onthe control switch 31 and disables the control chip 13 according to thefourth signal. The first power supplying module 10 stops supplying powerfor the electronic device 70.

When the first power supplying module 10 is in abnormal state, the MCU40 controls the battery 21 to supply power for the electronic device 70.

Referring to FIG. 3, a flowchart is presented in accordance with anexample embodiment of a power supplying method. The example method isprovided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry outthe method. The method described below can be carried out using theconfigurations illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, for example, and variouselements of these figures are referenced in explaining the examplemethod. Each block shown in FIG. 3 represents one or more processes,methods, or subroutines, carried out in the example method. Furthermore,the illustrated order of blocks is illustrative only and the order ofthe blocks can change. Additional blocks can be added or fewer blocksmay be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The examplemethod can begin at block 101.

At block 101, the first power supplying module 10 is in normal state.

At block 102, a determination is made as to whether the instant voltageof the super capacitor 51 is charged to be equal to the operationvoltage of the MCU 40, if yes, block 103 is performed, if not, block 107is performed.

At block 103, the MCU 40 is initialized to control the control module 30to enable the control chip 13 to switch off the electronic switch 22.

At block 104, the MCU 40 determines whether the electronic device 70 isin the standby mode, if yes, block S106 is performed, if not, block S105is performed.

At block 105, the first power supplying module 10 supplies power for theelectronic device 70 through the voltage converting module 60, and thenblock 201 is performed.

At block 106, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to disable thecontrol chip 13, and the first power supplying module 10 ceasessupplying power for the electronic device 70, and block 301 is thenperformed.

At block 107, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to enable thecontrol chip 13.

At block 108, the first power supplying module 10 supplies power for thesuper capacitor 51 to charge the super capacitor 51, the process thenreturns to block 102.

At block 201, the MCU 40 determines whether the electronic device 70 isin the standby mode, if yes, block 106 is performed, if not, block 202is performed.

At block 202, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant available powerof the battery 21 is lower than the first reference power, if yes, block205 is performed, if not, block 203 is performed.

At block 203, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to enable thecontrol chip 13 to switch on the electronic switch 22, and the firstpower supplying module 10 supplies power for the battery 21 to chargethe battery 21.

At block 204, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant available powerof the battery 21 is equal to the second reference power, if yes, block205 is performed, if not, block 201 is performed.

At block 205, the MCU 40 controls the electronic switch 22 to beswitched off, and the first power supplying module 10 stops supplyingpower for the battery 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, the power supplying method further comprises:

At block 301, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant available powerof the battery 21 is lower than the first reference power, if yes, block302 is performed, if not, block 205 is performed.

At block 302, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to enable thecontrol chip 13 to switch on the electronic switch 22, and the firstpower supplying module 10 supplies power for the battery 21 to chargethe battery 21.

At block 303, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant available powerof the battery 21 is equal to the second reference power, if yes, block304 is performed, if not, block 302 is performed.

At block 304, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to disable thecontrol chip 13 and switch off the electronic switch 22, and the firstpower supplying module 10 stops supplying power for the battery 21.

At block 305, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant voltage of thesuper capacitor 51 is lower than the first preset voltage, if yes, block306 is performed, if not, block 402 is performed.

At block 306, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to enable thecontrol chip 13 to switch on the electronic switch 22, and the firstpower supplying module 10 supplies power to the super capacitor 51 tocharge the super capacitor 51.

At block 307, the MCU 40 determines whether the electronic device 70 isin the standby mode, if yes, block 308 is performed, if not, block 401is performed.

At block 308, the MCU 40 determines whether the instant voltage of thesuper capacitor 51 is equal to the second preset voltage, if yes, block309 is performed, if not, block 306 is performed.

At block 309, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to disable thecontrol chip 13 to switch off the electronic switch 22, the first powersupplying module 10 ceases supplying power for the super capacitor 51.

At block 401, the first power supplying module 10 supplies power for theelectronic device 70 through the voltage converting module 60.

At block 402, the MCU 40 determines whether the electronic device 70 isin the standby mode, if yes, block 106 is performed, if not, block 403is performed.

At block 403, the MCU 40 controls the control module 30 to enable thecontrol chip 13 and the first power supplying module 10 to supply powerfor the electronic device 70.

Referring to FIG. 5, the power supplying method further comprises:

At block 501, the first power supplying module 10 is in abnormal state.

At block 502, the MCU 40 determines whether the electronic device 70 isin the standby mode, if yes, block 503 is performed, if not, block 504is performed.

At block 503, the first power supplying module 10 supplies no power tothe electronic device 70.

At block 504, the battery 21 supplies power for the electronic device 70through the voltage converting module 60.

In at least one embodiment, the electronic device 70 is a telephone in aconference call. The operation mode is talk mode and the first referencepower is 50% of a rated power of the battery 21. The second referencepower is 99% of the rated power of the battery 21, the first presetvoltage is 2.7 V, and the second preset voltage is 4.7 V.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Manydetails are often found in the art such as the other features of a powersupplying system and method. Therefore, many such details are neithershown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantagesof the present technology have been set forth in the foregoingdescription, together with details of the structure and function of thepresent disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes maybe made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, andarrangement of the parts within the principles of the presentdisclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broadgeneral meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore beappreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified withinthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power supplying system comprising: a firstpower supplying module; a control module coupled to the first powersupplying module; and a micro control unit (MCU) coupled to the controlmodule and configured to couple to an electronic device; a second powersupplying module coupled to the MCU, configured to supply power for theelectronic device when the first power supplying module is in anabnormal state and the electronic device is in an operation mode,wherein the MCU is configured to switch on the first power supplyingmodule when the first power supplying module is in a normal state, thefirst power supplying module is coupled to an AC power supply; the MCUis further configured to detect a current mode of the electronic deviceand output a first signal to the control module when the electronicdevice is in a standby mode; and the control module is configured toswitch off the first power supplying module when receiving the firstsignal, and wherein the control module comprises a control circuit and acontrol switch, the control circuit is coupled to the MCU, the controlswitch is coupled to the control circuit and the first power supplyingmodule, the control circuit is configured to switch on the controlswitch when receiving the first signal, and the first power supplyingmodule does not supply power when the control switch is switched on. 2.The power supplying system of claim 1, wherein the first power supplyingmodule comprises a control chip coupled to the control switch, thecontrol switch is configured to output an enable signal to the controlchip to enable the control chip when being switched off, and the firstpower supplying module does not supply power when the control chip isenabled.
 3. The power supplying system of claim 2, wherein the AC powersupply is coupled to a rectification filter circuit, which is coupled toa switch circuit; the control circuit comprises a transistor, a firstresistor, and a second resistor, a port of the control switch is coupledto a first terminal of the first resistor, a second terminal of thefirst resistor is coupled to the drain of the transistor; the source ofthe transistor is grounded; the gate of the transistor is coupled to afirst terminal of the second resistor; and a second terminal of thesecond resistor is coupled to a circuit control terminal of the MCU. 4.The power supplying system of claim 3, wherein the first rectificationfilter circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the switch circuit, anda second terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a transformer andthe control chip.
 5. The power supplying system of claim 1, wherein thecontrol switch is an optical coupler.
 6. The power supplying system ofclaim 1, wherein the power supplying module further comprises a voltageconverting module coupled to the MCU, the first power supplying module,and the electronic device, the first power supplying module outputs afirst voltage when the first power supplying module is in the normalstate, and the voltage converting module converts the first voltage to asecond voltage to supply power for the electronic devices.
 7. The powersupplying system of claim 1, wherein the MCU comprises a detectionterminal, when the detection terminal receives the first signal with avoltage level exceeding a predetermined voltage level, the MCUdetermines the electronic device is in the operation mode; and when thedetection terminal receives a second signal with a voltage level lowerthan the predetermined voltage level, the MCU determines the electronicdevice is in the standby mode.
 8. The power supplying system of claim 1,further comprising a super capacitor coupled to the first powersupplying module, the MCU, and the control module, wherein the MCUswitches on the first power supplying module when a current voltage ofthe super capacitor is charged to equal to an operation voltage of theMCU.
 9. A power supplying system comprising: a first power supplyingmodule; a control module coupled to the first power supplying module;and a micro control unit (MCU) coupled to the control module andconfigured to couple to an electronic device; wherein the MCU isconfigured to switch on the first power supplying module when the firstpower supplying module is in a normal state, the first power supplyingmodule is coupled to an AC power supply; the MCU is further configuredto detect a current mode of the electronic device and output a firstsignal to the control module when the electronic device is in a standbymode; and the control module is configured to switch off the first powersupplying module when receiving the first signal; and wherein the MCUcomprises a detection terminal, when the detection terminal receives thefirst signal with a voltage level exceeding a predetermined voltagelevel, the MCU determines the electronic device is in the operationmode; and when the detection terminal receives a second signal with avoltage level lower than the predetermined voltage level, the MCUdetermines the electronic device is in the standby mode.
 10. The powersupplying system of claim 9, wherein the control module comprises acontrol circuit and a control switch, the control circuit is coupled tothe MCU, the control switch is coupled to the control circuit and thefirst power supplying module, the control circuit is configured toswitch on the control switch when receiving the first signal, and thefirst power supplying module does not supply power when the controlswitch is switched on.
 11. The power supplying system of claim 10,wherein the first power supplying module comprises a control chipcoupled to the control switch, the control switch is configured tooutput an enable signal to the control chip to enable the control chipwhen being switched off, and the first power supplying module does notsupply power when the control chip is enabled.
 12. The power supplyingsystem of claim 11, wherein the AC power supply is coupled to arectification filter circuit, which is coupled to a switch circuit; thecontrol circuit comprises a transistor, a first resistor, and a secondresistor, a port of the control switch is coupled to a first terminal ofthe first resistor, a second terminal of the first resistor is coupledto the drain of the transistor; the source of the transistor isgrounded; the gate of the transistor is coupled to a first terminal ofthe second resistor; and a second terminal of the second resistor iscoupled to a circuit control terminal of the MCU.
 13. The powersupplying system of claim 12, wherein the first rectification filtercircuit is coupled to a first terminal of the switch circuit, and asecond terminal of the switch circuit is coupled to a transformer andthe control chip.
 14. The power supplying system of claim 10, whereinthe control switch is an optical coupler.
 15. The power supplying systemof claim 9, wherein the power supplying module further comprises avoltage converting module coupled to the MCU, the first power supplyingmodule, and the electronic device, the first power supplying moduleoutputs a first voltage when the first power supplying module is in thenormal state, and the voltage converting module converts the firstvoltage to a second voltage to supply power for the electronic devices.16. The power supplying system of claim 9, further comprising a supercapacitor coupled to the first power supplying module, the MCU, and thecontrol module, wherein the MCU switches on the first power supplyingmodule when a current voltage of the super capacitor is charged to equalto an operation voltage of the MCU.
 17. A power supplying systemcomprising: a first power supplying module; a control module coupled tothe first power supplying module; and a micro control unit (MCU) coupledto the control module and configured to couple to an electronic device;a super capacitor coupled to the first power supplying module, the MCU,and the control module, wherein the MCU switches on the first powersupplying module when a current voltage of the super capacitor ischarged to equal to an operation voltage of the MCU, wherein the MCU isconfigured to switch on the first power supplying module when the firstpower supplying module is in a normal state, that the first powersupplying module is coupled to an AC power supply; the MCU is furtherconfigured to detect a current mode of the electronic device and outputa first signal to the control module when the electronic device is in astandby mode; and the control module is configured to switch off thefirst power supplying module when receiving the first signal.